~by Dustin Teays for The Scranton Journal
The Heart of Iowa Conference is tough, and the Greene County Rams volleyball team fell to a conference foe in their most recent match.
The Rams headed to Nevada Sept. 26 to take on the Cubs where they ultimately fell 3-0 (25-18, 25-17, 25-18). The Rams are hovering near the middle of the Heart of Iowa Conference standings, with Roland-Story sitting at the top. The Norsemen are also ranked in the top 15 of the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union rankings. Even though the Rams lost against the Cubs, there were plenty of positives, including a high volume of digs, even with the absence of Violet Reedy.
“We were making incredible plays keeping the ball up. Our back row did a nice job. Our offense was adjusting to not having our regular setter on the floor with us. We had junior varsity setters Natalee Baugh and Taylor Johnston step in to set. They kept us in rhythm and did well,” head coach Chris Heisterkamp said.
The Cubs are a tough opponent, with double-digit wins on the year. Despite that, the Rams would keep it close in each set, losing only by a maximum of eight points each set. Heisterkamp mentions that the team played well from the start.
“We played loose and free from nerves, which showed from the first whistle. There were so many long volleys; we looked scrappy at times and did a great job of keeping the ball in play. In the third set it was looking like we might take it, as we came out strong with an 8-3 lead. We were getting digs and then sending attacks one after another. After being tied at 17-17, Nevada took advantage of some unfortunate errors on our part and went on an 8-1 run,” Heisterkamp concluded. Next, the Rams will take on fellow Heart of Iowa Conference foe Saydel Oct. 3 at home. That match is scheduled for 6:30 pm. The Rams are also set to host a tournament on Oct 5, beginning at 9 am. They will round out the next week of action by taking on West Marshall, Oct. 7, beginning at 6:30 pm.
Greene County 0 Nevada 3
Kills: Emma Shipley 6, Payton Kokenge 3, Lila Osterson 3, Emma Ewalt 3
Blocks: Emma Shipley 3, Ella Shipley 2, Natalee Baugh 2, Emma Ewalt 1, Payton Kokenge 1
Assists: Natalee Baugh 7, Taylor Johnston 2, Bellah Johnson 1, Emma Ewalt 1, Ella Shipley 1
Digs: Bellah Johnson 13, Hailey Carman 10, Emma Ewalt 7, Payton Kokenge 5, Addison Gannon 3, Natalee Baugh 2, Emma Shipley 2, Ella Shipley 1, Taylor Johnston 1.
